Intake; informal adjustment

(a) If an alleged delinquent child has not been detained after the filing of a complaint, he or she shall be promptly referred to intake or given a date for arraignment. (b) At intake, the court, the juvenile court intake officer, or other officer designated by the court shall inform a child of: (1) The contents of the complaint; (2) The nature of the proceedings; (3) The possible consequences or dispositions that may apply to such child’s case following adjudication; and (4) His or her due process rights, including the right to an attorney and to an appointed attorney; the privilege against self-incrimination; that he or she may remain silent and that anything said may be used against him or her; the right to confront anyone who testifies against him or her and to cross-examine any persons who appear to testify against him or her; the right to testify 1202 15-11-511 and to compel other witnesses to attend and testify in his or her own behalf; the right to a speedy adjudication hearing; and the right to appeal and be provided with a transcript for such purpose. (c) A juvenile court intake officer may elect to pursue a case through informal adjustment or other nonadjudicatory procedure in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 15-11-515. (d) If a case is to be prosecuted further and handled other than by informal adjustment or other nonadjudicatory procedure, a referral shall be made to the prosecuting attorney and a petition for delinquency shall be filed within 30 days of the filing of a complaint. History. — Code 1981, § 15-11-510, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242. 15-11-511. Arraignment; admissions at arraignment; right to attorney. (a) At arraignment, the court shall inform a child of: (1) The contents of the petition alleging delinquency; (2) The nature of the proceedings; (3) The possible consequences or dispositions that may apply to such child’s case following adjudication; and (4) His or her due process rights, including the right to an attorney and to an appointed attorney; the privilege against self-incrimination; that he or she may remain silent and that anything said may be used against him or her; the right to confront anyone who testifies against him or her and to cross-examine any persons who appear to testify against him or her; the right to testify and to compel other witnesses to attend and testify in his or her own behalf; the right to a speedy adjudication hearing; and the right to appeal and be provided with a transcript for such purpose. (b) The court may accept an admission at arraignment and may proceed immediately to disposition if a child is represented by counsel at arraignment. If a child’s liberty is not in jeopardy, he or she may waive the right to counsel at arraignment, provided that such waiver is made knowingly, voluntarily, and on the record. A child represented by counsel or whose liberty is not in jeopardy may make a preliminary statement indicating whether he or she plans to admit or deny the allegations of the complaint at the adjudication hearing. The court shall not accept an admission from a child whose liberty is in jeopardy and who is unrepresented by counsel. 1203 15-11-511 (c) The court shall appoint an attorney to represent an alleged delinquent child whose liberty is in jeopardy and who is an indigent person. History. — Code 1981, § 15-11-511, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242; Ga. L. 2014, p. 780, § 1-39/SB 364; Ga. L. 2018, p. 935, § 4/SB 131. The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, added the proviso at the end of the second sentence of subsection (b).